Chain saw



APM 29 3958 F. J. TRCKER 832,136

CHAIN'SW Filed Feb. 16, 1954, 2 Sheets-I-Sheei'. l

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ATTORN lEY April 29 1958 v F. .,u. TRECKER l 283mm@ CHAIN SAW Filed Feb. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR United States Patent O CHAIN SAW Francis J. Trecker, Chenequa, Wis.

Application February 16, 1954, Serial No. 410,514

Claims. (Cl. Sli-167) This invention relates generally to chain saws and more particularly to a chain saw attachment for utilization with an independent power source, such as is available on a power mower.

A general object of the invention is to provide an im* proved chain saw.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved chain saw .adaptable for use as a hedge trimmer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chain saw adapted to be driven by the power unit of another implement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved chain saw having a detachable hedge gathering plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chain saw which may be driven by an available independent power source through a flexible cable.

Another object is to provide an improved light weight chain saw which may be generally used for tree trimming purposes, and readily converted by means of a gathering plate attached thereto for hedge trimming purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved chain saw which may be readily adjusted angularly and locked in a selected position.

According to this invention the improved chain saw does not include its own power unit, but is especially adapted to be driven from an independent available power source such as from an electric motor, the internal com` bustion engine of a power operated garden implement, or the like. Power is taken from the source byv a ilexible shaft and transmitted to a rigid shaft journalled in a tube which serves as a handle for manipulating .the chain relative to it, and the cutting bar is supported by the plate to move with it, so that the chain saw may be adjusted to form a variable angle with the tube which is used to manipulate the apparatus. The rotatable plate also in cludes a laterally extending` dog which may be placedA in abutment with the material being cut, such as the branch of a tree, to hold the saw in position, opposing the forces developed by the operating chain tending to move `the unit. In addition, a detachable gathering plate is pro* vided for the purpose of cooperating with the chain to cut l thin branches, enabling the apparatus to be utilized as a hedge trimmer.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention, which will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, may be achieved by means of 4the exemplifying apparatus depicted in and set forth in this i Fice specification in connection with the accompanying draw ings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chain saw embody ing the novel features of the present invention, shown rel ceiving power from the power unit of a power lawn mower, and being utilized for cutting a branch of a tree;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail view in front elevation, showing the drive sprocket and cutting bar mounting on the rotatable plate, with the position of the detachable gathering plate being indicated in broken lines;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in. horizontal section taken along the plane represented by the line 3--3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of Fig. 2, with the tubing'which enters the gear case removed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view in front elevation, showing the idler sprocket mounted on the end of the cutting bar;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view in horizontal section taken along the plane represented by the line 6--6 in Fig. 5 to show the mounting of the idler sprocket on the cutting bar;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the detachable gathering plate for converting the chain saw to a hedge trimmer;

Fig. 8 is a view in vertical section taken through the cutter bar, showing one of the gathering plates depicted in Fig. 7 attached thereto along the lower guide rails;

Fig. 9 is the same view as Fig. 8, except that an additional gathering plate is shown attached on the other side of the cutter bar coincident with the other gathering plate; and,

Fig. l0 is the same view as Fig. 8, except that an additional gathering plate is shown attached to the same face of the cutter bar along the upper guide rails.

Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings and specifically to Fig. l thereofV showing a chain saw embodying the novel features of the present invention, and being utilized for cutting branches of a tree. As an illustrative example, it is depicted as being driven lby an internal combustion engine 14 of a rotary blade power lawn mower although it is to be understood that other available sources of power may be utilized, as for example, an electric motor or the like. The engine 14 has a vertical drive shaft connected to drive a flexible shaft 15 connected at its other end to a rigid shaft (not shown) journalled within a section of rigid tubing 16. The tubing 16 is utilized for handling the chain saw when in operation to facilitate reaching inaccessible places. To this end, it includes a handle 19 which may be grasped with one hand, and an arcuate lateral extension 20 having a grip 21 which may be grasped with the other hand to effect a firm hold on the apparatus. Additional sections of rigid tubing with its associated drive shaft may be attached to increase the reach of the operator, and in Fig. 1 another section of rigid tubing Z2 is shown attached to the Iirst section of tubing 16.

The section 22 also embraces a rotatable rigid shaft (not shown) connected to be driven by the rigid shaft within the tubing 16. Thus, by adding the section 22, the reach of the operator is increased so that he may operate the chain saw on a tree branch located a substantial distance above the ground, obviating the necessity of operating the apparatus from a ladder or other type of platform on which it is usually difficult to obtain a iirm toot ing. Similarly, additional sections 22 may be added to further increase the reach of the operator. On the other hand, when the material to be cut is readily accessible rotatably supported within the gear ease 2S as illustrated 'l in Fig. 3. The shaft 26 is journalled in a pair of antifriction bearings 27 mounted in the gear case 25 in spaced relationship. A bevel gear 28 is keyed to the interior end of the shaft Z6 within the gear case 25, and is .secured thereto by a nut 29 threaded onto the end of the shaft 26'.

The bevel gear 2S has meshing engagement with a cooperating bevel gear 32 keyed onto a shaft 33 to effect its rotational movement. The shaft 33 is journalled at one end in a bearing 34 lixed within the upper body portion of the gear case 25, and at its other cnd in an antifriction bearing 35 mounted in a rotatable cover plate 36 which serves to cover the opening of the gear case through which access is obtained to its interior mechanism.

The gear case 25 includes a circular recess 38 for receiving a. circular protrusion 39 formed on the cover plate 36, and having a diameter conforming to the recess 33 so that it serves as a `bearing for guiding the cover plate 36 in its rotational movement relative to the gear case 25.

The cover plate 36 is held in position on the gear case 25 by four-T bolts 4d having their cross bars disposed within a l slot 41 formed in the annular body portion of the gear case 25 surrounding the recess 38. The T slot 41 is provided with an opening 43, shown in Fig. 2, through which the cross bars of the T bolts di) may pass `for insertion into the T slot 4l. The 't bolts 4t) extend from their cooperating T slot 4l through suitable holes provided in the cover plate 36 which is held in position by suitable nuts 42 threadedonto the ends of the T bolts 40. Therefore, to clamp the cover plate 36 in a desired position it is only necessary to tighten the nuts 42 on the T bolts 40 and the cover plate 36 will vbe rigidly secured to the gear case 25. Whenit is desired to adjust the cover plate angularly, the nuts 42 may be loosened slightly Without removing them from the T bolts dit, to release the clamping effect, and the rotational movement may be imparted to the cover plate 36. Thus, inFig. 2, the cover plate 36 and its associated parts are shown in broken lines, adjusted 90 in a clockwise direction from the position illustrated in solid lines.

The shaft 33 includes an enlarged portion 45 which passes through a -bore 46 formed in the cover plate 36, the

opening being sealed by an annular felt packing 47 to preclude the escape of lubricant and the entrance of dirt into the interior of the gear case 25. The shaft 33 extends beyond the lower surface of the cover plate 36 to present a squared portion 48 for receivinga drive sprocket 5d, which is secured to the shaft 33 by a nut 5i threaded onto the end of the shaft 33 to securely tighten the drive sprocket 50 against the shoulder formed `by the enlarged portion 45, so that the sprocket 5t) will rotate with the shaft 33 by reason of its engagement with the squared portion 48.

The sprocket 50 functions to drive a chain, generally denoted by the reference numeral 52, for effecting the cutting operation, the sprocket 50 being provided with sprocket teeth 53 adapted for meshing engagement between successive guide links 54 of the chain 52. A retainer plate 55 is attached to the exposed -face of the sprocket 59 by suitable screws 56, and is of suicient diameter to extend over-,the sprocket teeth 53 for the purpose of retaining the chain 52 on the sprocket 5l). The chain 52 is precluded from moving off of the sprocket 5t) in the opposite direction by the exposed face of the cover plate 36.

The chain 52 includes the guide links 54 for guiding the chain in its path of movement, each of which also includes an outwardly extending cutter tooth 59 for cutting into the material that is to be severed. Each of the guide links 54 is connected to the succeeding guide link by a pair of side links 60, with one side link on each side'of the guide link 54 in coinciding relationship with each I with respect to the rakers 61 on the opposite side of the chain so that one raker is disposed before and after each of the cutter teeth 59. Thus, each pair of side links 60 includes one raker 6l, and the rakers 61 appear alternately on the two sides of the chain 52 with a guide link 54 and its cutter tooth 59 being disposed between each two successive rakers 61.

The length of chain 52 is supported by a cutter bar 65, and guided in its path of movement by guide rails 66, best seen in Fig. 3, and formed by cutting a central slot along both longitudinal edges of the cutter bar 65. The cutter ,bar extends laterally from the cover plate 36, being secured thereto by one of the T bolts 4t) which extends through a slot 67 formed in the cutter bar 65, as well as through the cover plate 36. Additional support for attaching the cutter bar 65 to the cover plate 36 is provided by a stud 68 threaded into an opening in the cover plate 36, and extending therefrom through the slot 67. The cutter bar 65 is then secured in position by tightening the nut 42 on the T bolt d0 and a nut 69 on the stud 68.

The other end of the lcutter bar 65 rotatably supports an idler sprocket 74 disposed within a slot 75 formed in the edge of the cutter bar 65, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The idler sprocket 74 is journalled upon a stub shaft 76, and operates to guide the chain 52, for reversing its direction of movement. The sprocket 74 includes sprocket teeth 77 adapted to engage the guide links 54 for guiding the chain 52 in an arcuate path to reverse its direction of movement.

Operation of the chain saw is facilitated by a dog 80 extending laterally from the cover plate 36, and formed integrally therewith for the purpose of opposing the forces created by the chain 52 as it cuts into the material. The dog 80 includes an abutment surface S1 which is placed against the material to be operated upon. hhe chain will be operating in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, and the force applied to the material by the operating chain will tend to move the apparatus to the right as viewed in Fig. 2. However, the abutment surface 81, in contact with the material being cut, will prevent such movement of the chain saw to thereby minimize the effort exerted by the operator. Thus, in Fig. l, the apparatus is illustrated being utilized for cutting the branch of a tree, and the dog 80 is in abutment with the branch, opposing lthe forcev of the chain tending to move the apparatus upwardly relative to the branch. lt is therefore only necessary for the operator to `balance the chain saw to maintain the cutting bar 65 in an upright position, to effect the cutting operation without exerting an effort to oppose the force of the operating chain.

As previously mentioned, lthe sections of rigid tubing, such as 16 and 22, may be eliminated when the operator has ready access to the work, and under these conditions the flexible shaft 15 would be connected directly to the -gear case 25. When used in this manner, the chain saw may be manipulated by grasping a handle 84 attached to the exterior of the gear case 2S. This handle is arcuate vin configuration, to facilitate handling the chain saw in any desired position. When handling the saw by the hanydle 84, there would be a danger of the operator contacting the chain 52 in the vicinity of the gear case, and to obviate this danger, `a skirt 85 depends from the cover -plate 36 to adequately protect the operator from the movmg parts.

The chain saw of the present invention is also adaptable for use as a hedge trimmer for severing the relatively thin branches of hedges or similar material. To this end, there is provided a detachable gathering plate generally identied by the reference numeral 90, and illustrated in Fig. 7. The gathering plate includes triangular shaped rack teeth 91 disposed successively to form triangular openings `92 between them. The gathering plate 90 is mounted on the cutter bar 65 so that the rack teeth 9 1 are in juxtaposition with the chain 52.

cesareo The gathering plate 9i? is illustrated in Fig. 2 in broken i lines attached to the cutting bar 65. With the gathering plate thus attached, it will serve to hold the thin branches of a hedge, for example, within the triangular openings 92 while the teeth of the chain 52 are cutting the material. Thus, material having relatively little body may be severed with the apparatus, by reason of the attachment of the gathering plate 90. Without the gathering plate 9i), such material would merely bend out of the path of the cutting teeth when struck by the chain 52, without being severed. In Figs. 8, 9 and l0 there are shown various combinations of gathering plates 90 which may be attached to the cutter bar 65 to establish maximum eiiiciency for the particular conditions being encountered. Thus, in Fig. 8, one gathering plate 90 is shown mounted along a longitudinal hedge of the 4cutter bar 65.

When thinner material is being severed, it may be advantageous to grip the material on both sides of the chain 52 to provide additional support. Under these conditions, two gathering plates may be attached along the one longitudinal edge of the cutter bar 65, one gathering plate being disposed on either side of the chain 52. With this arrangement the material being cut will be held on both -sides of the chain 52, enabling the apparatus to operate on fine branches, or other material possessing little rigidity, which could not otherwise be operated upon by an apparatus of this type.

In some instances, it may be desirable to move the chain saw laterally back and forth to effect the cutting operation, so that both sides of the cutter bar 65 are utilized for a severing operation. When it is desired to utilize the apparatus in this manner, two gathering plates 90 may be attached to one face of the cutter bar 65, with one of the gathering plates being disposed alongone longitudinal edge of the cutter bar 65, and the other gathering plate 9i? being disposed along the opposite longitudinal edge of the cutter bar 65 as shown in Fig. l0. When thus equipped, either side of the chain saw may be utilized for severing relatively thin material, as for example, trimming a hedge.

It is therefore obvious that the chain saw of the present invention is especially adapted for convenient and versatile operation. Its weight has been substantially reduced by the elimination of its prime mover, depending of course, upon an independent power source for its means of actuation, with the power being transmitted by a flexible shaft. The flexible shaft may be connected to drive the chainsaw through sections of rigid shafts, journalled in .corresponding sections of rigid tubing which serve as a handle to enable the operator to reach :to inaccessible places. In addition, the dog 8i) with its abutment surface 8l is provided for holding the saw in position upon the material being cut to relieve the operator of this eort, and permit him to concentrate on holding the saw in the proper plane for effecting the cutting operation. To further facilitate its operation, the chain with its cooperating cutter bar may be adjusted angularly, relative to the rigid tubing through which the power is transmitted as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2, so that the cutter bar 65 may be adjusted to the position most convenient to the operator. The apparatus is also adaptable for severing relatively thin and flexible material by the addition of the gathering plates 90, to permit it to function in a manner not previously possible with mechanisms of this nature.

From the foregoing description of illustrative appa ratus constituting an exemplifying embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent that there has been 6 provided an improved chain saw operated by power from an independent source, especially adapted for convenient and efficient operation, While possessing versatility for performing functions not previously practical with an apparatus of this type.

Although the illustrative embodiment of the invention herein set forth has been described in detail to make a full disclosure of the invention, it is to be understood that the particular apparatus described is intended to be illustrative only, and that the various features of the invention may be incorporated in other forms Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened in the subjoined claims.

Having thus, set forth the principles of the invention in connection with the foregoing description of an illustrative preferred embodying structure, I hereby claim as my invention or discovery:

1. In a chain saw adapted to be operated bypower from an independent source, a gear cas'e having an access opening and an annular T slot disposed about the periphery of said opening, a gear train housed within said gear case, a flexible shaft connected to transmit power from an independent source to drive said gear train, a cover plate journalled in said access opening for rotational adjustment relative to said gear case, a plurality of T bolts in said T slot and operably connected to clamp said cover plate in any selected rota tional position, a stub shaft journalled in said gear case and in said cover plate with one end extending through the cover plate to the exterior of said gear case, a drive sprocket keyed to the extending end of said stub shaft to rotate with it, a closed loop chain having cutting teeth for cutting the material to be operated upon and being in meshing engagement with said drive lsprocket to be driven by it for effecting a cutting operation, a cutting bar secured to said cover plate to extend laterally therefrom and move with it in its rotational adjustment, and guide rails on said cutting bar for guiding said chain in its path of movement, whereby the path of movement of said chain may be adjusted angularly relative to said gear case by a rotational movement of said cover plate to eiect a corresponding movement of said cutting bar without interrupting the driving connection to said chain.

2. In a chain saw adapted to be operated by' power from an independent source, a gear case having an access opening and an annular T slot disposed about the periphery of said opening, a gear train housedwithin said gear case, a length of rigid tubing attached to said gear case, a drive shaft journalled in said tubing and connected to drive said gear train, gripping handles mounted on said rigid tubing for manipulating the apparatus, a flexible shaft connected to transmit power from `the independent source for rotating said drive shaft, a cover plate journalled in said access opening for rotational adjustment relative to said gear case, a plurality of 'l' bolts in said 'i' slot and operably connected to retain said cover plate in said opening and clamp it to the gear case in any selected rotational position, a stub shaft journalled in said gear case and in said cover plate with one end extending through the cover plate to the exterior of the gear case, a drive sprocket keyed to the extending end of said stub `shaft to rotate with it, a closed loop chain having cutting teeth for cutting the material to be operated upon and being in meshing engagement with said. drive sprocket to be driven by it for effecting a cutting operation, a cutting bar secured to said cover plate to extend laterally therefrom and move with it in its rotational adjustment, and guide rails on said cutting bar for guiding said chain in its path of movement, whereby the path of movement of said chain may be adjusted angularly relative to said rigid tubing by a rotational movement of said cover plate to etfect a corresponding movement of said cutting bar without interrupting the driving connection to said chain.

3. In a chain saw adapted to be operated by power from' an independent source the combination of a gear case having an access opening and an annular T-slot disposed about the periphery of said access opening, a gear train housed within said gear case, operable means connectable to said source of power and to said gear casing to drive said gear train, a cover plate journalled insaid access opening for rotational adjustment relative to said gear case, a plurality of T-bolts in said T-slots and operably connected to retain said cover plate in said opening and to clamp it to said gear case in any selected rotational position, a closed loop chain operably 'connected to be driven by said train, said chain having cutting teeth and raker teeth, said teeth of said chain being arranged and constructed so that each cutting tooth has a rake tooth immediately following it, said rake teeth being disposed so that they are alternately positioned on either side of said cutting teeth, a pair of multi-toothed gathering plates detachably mounted on said chain saw in a manner that said gathering plates are disposed on either side of one of the loops of said chain and in a manner so that the teeth of said plates lie in juxtaposition with said chain to gather and hold the material being cut in the spaces between the teeth of said gathering plates for operation upon by said chain, said gathering `,lates having their side faces adjacent said chain recessed to accommodate the passage of said rake teeth oi said chain so that the rake teeth adjacent to said gathering plates will clear the material being cut, whereby one side of said chain saw may be used to operate upon heavy rigid material and theA opposite side of said chain saw may be used to operate upon relatively thin dexible material.

4. In a chain saw adapted to be operated by power from an independent source, the combination of, a gear case having an access opening and an annular T-slot disposed about the periphery of said opening, a gear train housed within said gear case, a cover plate journalled in said access opening for rotational adjustment relative to said gear case, a plurality of T-bolts in said T-slot and operably connected to retain said cover plate in said opening and to clamp it to the gear case in any selected rotational position, a closed loop chain having cutting teeth and raker teeth and operably connected to be driven by said gear train, said teeth of said chain being arranged andfconstructed so that each cutting tooth has a raker tooth immediately following it, said. raiser teeth being disposed so that they are alternately positioned on either'side of said cutting teeth; a pair of multitoothed gathering plates detachably mounted on said chain saw in a manner that said gathering plates are disposed on either side of one of the loops of said chain and in a manner so that the teeth of said plates lie in juxtaposition with said chain to' gather and hold the material being cut in the spaces between the teeth thereof for operation upon by said chain, said gathering plates having their side faces adjacent said chain recessed to accommodate the passage of said rake teeth of said chain so that the rake teeth adjacent to said gathering plates will clear the material being cut, a handle on said gear case for manipulating the apparatus, and `a guard skirt depending from said cover plate and extending forward a distance to enclose a portion of said chain adjacent said gear case, whereby one side of said chain saw may be used to operate upon heavy rigid material and the opposite side may be used to operate upon relatively thin flexible material and the portion of said chain adjacent to the gear case is enclosed to atord protection to the hands and person of the operator thereof.

5. In a chain saw adapted to be operated by power from an independent source, the combination of a gear case having an access opening and an annular T-slot disposed about the periphery of said opening, a gear train housed within said gear case, operable means connected to transmit power from said independent source to said gear train, a cover plate journalled in said access opening for rotational adjustment relative to said gear case, a plurality of Tabolts in said T-slots and operably connected to clamp said cover plate in any selected rotational position, a shaft jonrnalled in said gear case and said cover plate with one end extending outwardly of said cover plate, a drive sprocket operatively connected to the extending end of said shaft for rotation within; said sprocket being arranged and constructed so as to permit free manipulation of said T-bolts without removing said sprocket from said shaft, a closed loop chain having cutting teeth and raker teeth and being in meshing engagement with said sprocket to be driven by it for elTecting a cutting operation, guide means for guiding said chain in its path of movement secured to said cover plate to extend laterally therefrom and move with it in its rotational adjustment, a handle on said gear case for manipu lating the apparatus, a guard skirt secured to said cover plate and extending laterally a distance from said gear case and adapted to enclose a portion of said chain adjacent to said gear plate to attord protection to the hands and person of an operator, and a gathering plate detachably mounted on said chain guide means, said gathering plate having racl; teeth formed successively along a longitudinal edge thereof to lie in juxtaposition with said chain to hold material being cut in the spaces between the rack teeth for operation upon by said chain, said gathering plate having its side face adjacent to said chain recessed to accommodate the passage of said raker teeth of said chain7 whereby the path of movement of said chain may be adjusted angularly to any desired position relative to said gear case by rotational movement of said cover plate without interrupting the driving connection to said chain and one side of said chain may be used to operate upon heavy rigid material and the opposite side of said chain may be used to operate upon relative thin flexible material and the portion of said chain adjacent said gear case is guarded to afford protection to the hands and person of the operator.

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